§ 25. Sir ROBERT SMITHasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Canadian Government have recently passed regulations prohibiting the importation of pedigree cattle into Canada from this country except through the London quarantine station; that the Canadian import regulations with regard to pedigree cattle are more strict than those imposed by any other Dominion or the Argentine; and that, owing to the accommodation at the London quarantine station being limited, there are large numbers of cattle awaiting shipment to Canada; whether he will consider setting up a quarantine station at Glasgow; and whether he proposes to take any, and what, steps to deal with the situation?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I think that my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension. The Canadian regulations for the import of cattle, though stricter than those of the Argentine Republic, are similar to those of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Union of South Africa; and New Zealand at present prohibits entirely the importation of animals direct from the United Kingdom. The difficulties in regard to the export of cattle to Canada arise, not from lack of accommodation at the London Quarantine Station, which is adequate for the requirements of the trade, but from the absence of shipping facilities from London direct to Quebec, the only Canadian Quarantine Station available during the summer. Efforts have been made, and will be continued as opportunity offers, to secure improvement in those facilities. I may add that animals may be exported direct from Scotland to Canada, when Scotland is entirely free from foot-and- 14 mouth disease. This arrangement was suspended on the outbreak of the disease in Lanarkshire on the 17th January last, but it is hoped that this suspension will be removed about the end of this month.